Woodroffe Watermain Repairs Update

April 27, 2011

BAN ENACTED IMMEDIATELY•A mandatory ban on all outdoor water use in Barrhaven, Riverside South, and Manotick.•The ban is enacted under Section 77 of the City of Ottawa’s Water By-law No. 2003-500.•The ban fulfills the City’s responsibility to take prudent measures to protect drinking water quality•The ban is in place until further notice.

MAP OF IMPACTED AREA

All outdoor water use prohibited:• Lawn and garden watering;• Splash pads;• Car washing;• Pool filling and top-up;• Grounds and building cleaning and power-

washing; and• Any other outdoor use of City supplied water.

What does the ban restrict?

BACKGROUND

• Woodroffe transmission watermain installed in 1976.• First failure occurred in 2007.• 2008 Condition Assessment identified need for

several spot repairs.• Repair plan:

• Complete redundancy link:• Project currently in construction;• Completion scheduled for late October 2011.

• Repair Woodroffe Transmission Fall 2011• No service impact due to redundant feed

BACKGROUND

• Second failure occurred in January 2011.• Conducted second, expanded condition assessment

along Woodroffe (David to Fallowfield). Investigation identified:• Further degradation south of Hunt Club,• Significant pipe degradation north of Hunt Club.• Premature failure of pipe.

• Decision taken to expand scope of 2011 capital project and not return pipe into service

• Council provided budget authority for the project in March 2011.

CURRENT WATER SUPPLY

• Since January, back-up water supply has been servicing the communities of Barrhaven, Riverside South and Manotick.

• Back-up water supply until transmission main recommissioned.

• Back-up supply has capacity to meet Basic Demand.• Back-up is unable to meet summer (outdoor) water

demands.

THE SYSTEM

Reservoir graphic here

THE PROBLEM

RESERVOIR LEVEL – PEAK DEMAND

FIXING THE PIPEOPTIONS CONSIDERED

• Postponing the work to the fall;• Accelerating other capital projects to supplement

supply to the area;• Provision of an overland supplementary supply;• Alternative staging of the work; and• Alternative designs.

None of the options examined are able to meet the summer water demands of the three communities.

FIXING THE PIPEIdentified Solution

Construction is to commence early May.Financial incentives included in the contract for:PHASE I (early May – early June)• Install a 305 mm watermain from the Nepean

Sportsplex to Vaan Drive.• Spot repairs of the 1220 mm watermain at

Knoxdale Road, Grenfell Crescent and Slack Road.PHASE II (mid May – Mid-August)• Replace 1220 mm watermain from north of Hunt

Club Road south to Vaan Drive.

TOO MUCH DEMAND

• Depressurization of the pressure zones.• Loss of supply for one to three days.• Severe water restrictions, including indoor restrictions will be

required until the system is re-pressurized.• A Boil Water Advisory due to the potential of contamination.• Extensive flushing and water quality testing before the Boil

Water Advisory could be lifted (2-4 weeks.)• Bottled water delivered to residents.

DEMAND REDUCED

• If people comply with ban, no service interruptions• Water Supply Continues as normal.• All indoor use accommodated.• No system depressurization.• Impact on residents and business minimized

HOW TO REDUCE DEMAND

1. Education and Information – Understand the need for the ban will encourage compliance

2. Voluntary Compliance Measures – Assistant people and businesses will encourage compliance.

3. Communications – Targeted, multiple tool, communications for each stakeholder group

4. Enforcement – Progressive enforcement education, warnings, fines

COMPLIANCE PROMOTION

•Top it Up – Free pool and hot tub top ups•Garden Centre Assistance – Free trucked water•Rain Barrel Subsidies – A $50 rebate for people who buy rain barrels.•Development Agreements – Relaxation of sod and plant requirements.•Flusher Hydrant Services – New flusher hydrants on periphery of the ban zone.

CONTINGENCY PLAN

Emergency plans have been developed:•Distribution of potable water•City facilities access for hygiene•Backup fire supply•Contingency communications plan

•Boil Water Advisory•Daily ban updates•Water distribution information•Multi-tier approach

We’re in this together…• Outdoor water ban is enacted to protect the water supply.• We recommend approving compliance measures, funding to

manage the ban, enforcement measures.• The City will lead by example.• The public will play a critical role in protecting their water supply.• City to lead by example.• Every effort is being made to expedite a return to full water

service in this area.

SUMMARY

QUESTIONS?